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Family is central to Moroccan life. This is the general pattern throughout the Arab world. Of course family is important around the world, but in relative terms is more important in the Arab world than in more secular oriented countries. That may be fine for family values which definitely are important, but create problems such as nepotism when you try to run a country. Family sizes are large compared to Western families, but have been declining n recent yeas, especially among urban families. Polygamy is legal in Morocco because it is sanctioned in the Koran, but it is now uncommon, primarily for financial reasons. Women are n allowed to have more than one husband. Relatively few men can support two or more families. And there are now a range of non-Koranic restrictions. A husband must get the consent of his current wife before marrying a second time. Judicial approval is also required. A man must be able to financially support multiple families. A man must be able to demonstrate that he can provide for all of his wives equally. The Moroccan Family Code of 2004 governs polygamy in Morocco. Breaking the law and marrying without permission from one's current wife can result in fines, but not jail time. Moroccan families like other Arab tend to be very close-knit with a greater degree of sharing than is the case in he West. Living together in multi-generational households is very common. The idea that respecting parents and elders is very strong/ Teenage angst is much less common. A highly regarded phase is 'lla yrHm lwalidin' meaning 'God bless your parents.' Meal time is an important event and commonly eaten communally. The 'Patriarchy' is alive and still thriving. The doll Barbie and the movie 'Barbie' has mixed reception. Morocco's more open society allowed the film to play and there was an open discussion of the issues. Neighboring Algeria banned it. In Morocco the family head is the father, but the mother's opinion is consulted, more so than in many Arab countries. Young adults tend to stay with parents until they are married, certainly the girls. For boys, finance is a an important issue. For girls it is more cultural. This can be well into their late-20s or even early-30s. Traditionally, the mother's responsibilities are domestic, managing the home and caring for the children. In this area the mother can even sometimes challenge her husband, especially in the more culturally modern countries like Morocco. Increasingly women are working outside the home, but young women are still much less independent than Western women. Children generally own their own belongings, including clothing. Borrow from siblings is common giving the multi-generational setup. Middle-class teenagers generally do not work outside the family, even part-time jobs and their spending is monitored. Poor children may have to work, although income levels have risen considerably in recent years. Family time is important among Moroccan families. Mint tea is commonly shared at family time together.
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